Musical instrument



July 21, 1970 M. at c ggEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed July 1}, 1968 2 m aF INVENTOR.

MARTIN B. COHEN BY MQ QALQ United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An apparatus for simulating the sound of a natural cabasainstrument, consisting of a drum, having a hollow chamber including aplurality of ball chains coupled around the surface of the drum. Thesurface of the drum is textured with serrations which run transverselyto the travel of the ball chain over the surface so that the movement ofthe chains over the drum surface produces the cabasa sound.

This invention relates to an apparatus for simulating the sound of aLatin American musical instrument.

More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus for simulatingthe sound of a cabasa, a percussion type musical instrument commonlyemployed by Latin American musicians.

In the accompaniment of Latin American music, several percussioninstruments are employed which are designed to add rhythm to the music.One of these instruments consists of the cabasa, which consists of agourd or coconut shell having a handle secured thereto and containing anet of nut-like beads surrounding its outer circumference. The beads aretypically strung on wire to form the net which surrounds the shell sothat their movement against the hollow shell produces the desiredrhythmic sound. The surface of the shell may also be serrated in orderto accentuate the movement of the beads across its surface. After theinstrument is repeatedly played, however, the wire strands of the netoften break, spilling the beads and destroying the effect of theinstrument.

The apparatus, according to the invention, is designed to replace thenatural cabasa and capable of simulating its natural sound when playedas a percussion instrument. The apparatus is constructed from readilyavailable materials and, unlike its natural counterpart, may be massproduced in large quantities. The instrument of the invention is alsoconstructed in such a way as to be almost unbreakable and provides longlife and utility during its use by musicians.

The apparatus, according to the invention, includes a drum which issecured to the end of a handle so that it can be operated manually. Thecylindrical surfaces of the drum are constructed from textured metal andinclude a plurality of ball chains which are strung over the texturedsurfaces for establishing a sliding relationshiptherewith. The flangesat the ends of the drum are sufficiently large to prevent the chainsfrom becoming detached from the drum.

The instrument is played by holding the beads in the palm of one handand rotating the handle of the drum with the other hand so that thebeads will move across the textured surface of the drum so as to producethe desired cabasa sound.

In another embodiment of the invention, a small amount of sand or gravelmay be placed inside the drum so that the instrument can produce anothersound by shaking the drum.

The apparatus of the invention has been found to produce a greatervolume than the original instrument with greater definition of sound.

It is therefore an object according to the present inr. ce

vention to provide an apparatus which simulates the sound of a naturalcabasa instrument.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide apercussion instrument for use in Latin American music which simulatesthe sound of a natural cabasa and is constructed from readily availablematerials.

It is still another object according to the present invention to providean apparatus which produces the sound of a cabasa and which is simple indesign, easy to manufacture, and which provides long operating life.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of the presentinvention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings aredesigned for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the percussioninstrument according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of the invention takenalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodimentof the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 13, there is shown one embodiment of the instrumentaccording to the invention having a cylindrical drum 10 secured to ahandle 17. The ends of drum 10 are defined by flanges 11 and 12.Disposed between flanges 11 and 12 is a cylindrical surface 14 which istextured or serrated as shown in detail in FIG. 3. Secured through theaxial center of flange 12 is a handle 17 which includes a short threadedstud 19 secured in its end flange 22 along the handle axis. A coupling18 is then threadably secured to the exposed end of stud 19. A carriagebolt 13 is inserted through the center of circular flange 11 and has alength sufficient to threadably engage the open end of coupling 18. Thehead of carriage bolt 13 is larger than its opening through flange 11 toprevent it from being pulled therethrough when handle 17 is threadablytightened to drum 10. A suitable adhesive may be applied to the threadsof cou pling 18 prior to assembly to prevent handle 17 from becomingloose from drum 10 during playing of the instrument.

Radially disposed on surface 14 are a plurality of bead chains 15 whichare each contained in closed loops and linked together by means ofconnecting rods 16. The balls on the chains consist of hollow spheres,and the chains are loosely coupled in order to slide freely over surface14. The serrations of surface 14 are arranged to run parallel to theaxis of drum 10 so that the balls will move transversely across theserrations to produce the desired musical sound.

FIG. 1 shows one method of playing the instrument according to theinvention whereby the palm of the left hand 21 is held against beadchains 14 while drum 10 is rotated back and forth by right hand 20gripping handle 17. The movement of the metal balls 15 across texturedsurface 14 of hollow drum 10 produces a sound which is of greater volumethan the original cabasa instrument and also provides greater definitionof the sound.

FIG. 4 shows another possible embodiment according to the inventionwherein small particles such as pebbles, gravel or sand 23 are insertedinto the hollow chamber of drum 10 and in contact with the internalwalls of cylindrical surface 14. By shaking particles 23 within thehollow drum of the apparatus, an additional percussion sound is producedwhich is dilferent in quality from that of the cabasa sound.

The apparatus of the invention may be constructed from readily availablematerials and easily mass produced in large quantities at low cost.Handle 17 and end flanges 11 and 12 may be constructed from Wood orplastic while textured surface 14 may be constructed from metal or otherhard material. Ball chains 15 are readily available in metal and aresimilar to those used for constructing key chains and the like. Thecarriage bolt and coupling are also readily available materials so thatthe instrument may be easily assembled within a matter of minutes bysemiskilled labor.

Aside from the instruments obvious use as a percussion device toaccompany Latin American music, it may also be utilized as a toy, soundprop or decorative device.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing percussion-like sound comprising;

a hollow drum,

a rough surface disposed on the surface of said drum,

and

at least one ball chain slidably .disposed for contact against saidtextured surface.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said drum issubstantially cylindrical and additionally comprises a handle securedalong its axis at one end thereof.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said rough surface isserrated parallel to the axis of said drum.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball chain comprisesa plurality of metal spheres and connecting linkages for looselycoupling said spheres in closed loops surrounding said surface.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said drum additionallycomprises end flanges having a diameter larger than said ball chain loopto prevent escape thereof.

'6. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 additionally comprising aplurality of particles inserted into the hollow chamber of said drum forcontact with the internal walls of said textured surface.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said handle additionallycomprises a stud, a coupling threadably engaged to said stud, and acarriage bolt engaged through the opposite end of said drum andthreadably engaged to said coupling.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD B. WILKINSON, PrimaryExaminer L. R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,521,518 Dated July 21, 1970 Martin B. Cohen Inventor(s) It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 29, that portion that reads "textured",

should read --rough--.

Line 13, delete "textured.

all iii!) Am (SEAL) Amer.-

Edward M. Fletcher, I1". Attaining Officer p mmien 0 Patents

